SOL is a good company and has some quality products, but unfortunately this "kit" is not one of them. For what you get the kit is far too bulky, not nearly comprehensive enough for the price, and the combo knife/whistle/light is just outright junk.
You can build your own much more comprehensive "pocket kit". I'd start with a top quality Wenger 16981 lock blade Swiss Army Knife (has a great saw and other useful tools and it is available here at Amazon) and add the other items included in this SOL Kit. You won't spend much more than the SOL kit and you'll have much better equipment in a smaller space.
I bought a survival kit tin from bepreparedtosurvive and added Katadyn MicroPur Purification Tablets In Your Choice of Styles, a liter water bag, a Streamlight 73001 Nano Light Miniature Keychain LED Flashlight, Black, a Adventure Medical Kits Fox 40 Rescue Howler Whistle the Wenger 16981 Evolution Lock S 13 Swiss Army Knife Ergo Grip With Safety Lock Blade a few strips of removable backing duct tape, a few survival food tablets, some 250lb kevlar thread, safety pins (free from the dry cleaner), a signal mirror, a fresnel lens (solar fire starter), a flint + steel and some tinder, a few fishhooks and small spool of BRAIDED fishing line (doesn't tangle like monofiliment line). I also added a BugX Insect Repellent Towelette 25 Foil Packs/Box 30% DEET in a Water Based Formula That Is Non-greasy and Non-staining. Stuff a few bandaids, steri-strips, and a packet of neosporin in the odd spaces left over and you'll be pretty well prepared for minor emergencies.
Wrap the tin with an Adventure Medical Heatsheets Emergency Blanket, and some more kevlar thread then put it in a ziplock for a real pocket kit. That's food, water, shelter, fire, and tools all in less space than the SOL kit which lacks some of these basic requirements.
I bought this little SOL kit, thinking it was of the same caliber as some of their other products, but right from the beginning I was disappointed with the bulk, poor quality, and lack of components. This is a cool gadgetty toy, but it lacks substance, and the backbone of the kit, the knife, is weak and easily broken. It's a wannabe tool in a toy survival kit. You can do a much better job yourself, even using the cheap and ubiquitious Altoids tin.
Sorry SOL, you just didn't get this one right.
I have been waiting for this item since it was first announced.
The list price from the 3rd party amazon seller ($84) is much higher than the actual MSRP ($60). However amazon's discount brings it down to a reasonable cost, compared to other buying options. Just make sure you don't think you are getting 40% off, because you aren't.
The case is big. Think 2 or 3 altoids tins stacked on each other, or 2-3 decks of playing cards. It does fit well into a baggy jeans or jacket pocket though. The case is very well made, from nice hard plastic. The main container has a rubber o-ring to provide waterproofing. It seems like it would take reasonable drops or impacts quite well.
Unfortunately, the usable space of the box is much less than you would get from 2/3 altoids cans. This is because over 1/2 of the thickness of the box is taken up by the built in tools. Now, if you consider that you would also take up that space if things were loose in the box, it comes out pretty fair, but there is "dead" loss due to the structure that holds things in place, and you lost flexibility in choosing what to pack. I wish they had the case more open, with the tools just loose inside to maximize space and flexibility.
The knife is nice, but not very durable. It is very small (swiss army sized?), but fits well in the hand, and has a nice blade. The knife is exceptionally easy to open one handed (the easiest knife to open I have, except for the assisted open ones). The handle is light plastic however, so any heavy duty (or really even light/medium) chopping or battoning would destroy it immediately. The knife is really only useful for cutting cord/cloth/seatbelt or perhaps shaving some small sticks into tinder etc. You could use it to fillet a fish, or clean a small animal. Certainly better than nothing, but any serious carrier will need to have a more heavy duty knife. The knife has a lock to hold it open, and locks into the case with a small button to release. While you can open the knife easily one handed, it is a tad bit hard to get out of the case one handed. I really recommend carrying a higher quality knife in addition to this for almost any situation
The light on the knife is pitiful. A very low intensity LED. Possibly good enough for providing very close up light to see by while lighting a fire or something (assuming you are lighting the fire a few inches away). Completely useless for navigation/signaling/travel. This is the brightness of a single LED keychain light for getting a key into a lock etc. Possibly could be used to read by.
The whistle on the knife is decent. Not equal to a dedicated howler or something though, but very convenient, and much louder than yelling.
The compass is simple and functional. No where near as accurate or reliable as a dedicated military style compass, but serviceable in an emergency. The compass must be held perfectly level. Even a slight tip causes the edge of the disc to touch the plastic and freeze the compass so it does not rotate freely. The compass is stored outside the case, so drops and impacts could shatter the bubble fairly easily rendering it broken.
The fire starter is basically a cigarette lighter, without the fuel. Easy to use one handed, and tosses out some nice sparks. Certainly not as powerful as a dedicated flint/magnesium/blastmatch, but good in a pinch. Make sure you spin the wheel the right direction.
The signaling mirror is very nice. Equal to ones purchased individually. Has a nice aiming hole, and some instructions. Comes with a protective sticker applied as to prevent scratches. Not removable from the case.
the supplies are ok. Some tinder, wire, twine, and aluminum foil. Also a small fishing/sewing kit. They barely fit into the case. You would certainly want additional supplies such as a survival blanket (which would absolutely not fit in the case)
All in all, you can absolutely find MUCH higher quality and more powerful tools if you buy separately. However, the case is convenient as an every day carry item to make sure you have at least minimal basics with you at all times. If you are the kind who carries a real knife, real flashlight, multi-tool, etc at all times then the kit probably has less value, but I will likely keep it in my jacket pocket all the time for use as backup
For those considering an "all in one" survival tool such as the various 7 in one, 6 in one tools available this one is CLEARLY superior. The other ones out there are absolute junk in comparison, and do not provide a knife or the consumable supplies. It is however quite a bit bigger and more expensive.
For me, this will replace the 7 in one I was carrying (heading to the trash!). The BlastMatch I carried will get moved into the backpack kit instead of the every day kit. I will continue to carry an assisted opening folder, and a more powerful pocket flashlight.
Buy Adventure Medical Kits SOL Origin Survival Tool Now
If you're a serious outdoorsman, camper, survivalist, or naturist, you're not going to buy this kit anyway. You'll construct your own kit out of best-of-breed equipment. For the normal guy who needs something in an emergency situation, the Origin rocks. I don't understand the sentiment from others that the kit is cheaply constructed. I pounded six tent stakes into the ground with mine. It's made of *very* thick plastic.
Yes, if you used the tools in this kit on a routine basis as your primary gear during camping trips, they would not last. They're not meant to. They're meant for emergencies. The knife in this kit is not meant for you to give up your primary field knife ... it's meant to be used if you find yourself without your gear and you otherwise have nothing else to rely on. It also teaches a beginner to focus on the absolute basics necessary for survival.
Put this in your car, bugout pack, or minimum carry kit. It's an excellent tool of last resort.
Read Best Reviews of Adventure Medical Kits SOL Origin Survival Tool Here
Depending on who you are, and for what scenarios you plan to use this, determines whether or not this kit is for you.
I write this from a perspective of an advanced backpacker with extensive military training, including various survival training. I am not a Bear Grylls nor any other type of professional survivalist. In my younger days, I loved the challenge of self-induced suck-fests. I consider myself an able enthusiast, not an expert.
I find the biggest question I faced with the SOL Origin was if it was worth the cost. Here is my opinion. For beginners, yes. For advanced folks, it is worth it as an easy toss in backup to a primary kit, maybe for the fanny pack when leaving behind the main backpack. For the seasoned outdoorsman, make your own kit and save the money.
For the average Joe, the beginner, this kit is an exceptional insurance policy. It's simple. It's basic. It will help you survive an emergency situation for a short period until help finds you. For $30 some bucks, it's cheap insurance that's easy to toss in the car and take along on a nature trip.
Why is it so valuable for this kind of person?
First, it's there. No kit is good if you don't take it with you. I wouldn't call it pocketable unless you like big things in your cargo pocket, but it is easily packable. Second, it provides the tools to overcome the biggest threats to emergency survival: regulating body temperature (fire/heat), signaling tools in order to be found, a guide to find a good water source, and tools to help find and get food. This kit doesn't do the work for you, but it assists the novice in figuring it out.
Let's break down the content.
Survival Guide: This gives you the basic fundamentals of survival. It will arm you just enough to make it to the "Get Found" stage. It will not turn you into Man vs. Wild. I do wish some of the graphics were better done with a little more explanation for the novice. The biggest value, in my opinion, is the instruction on getting water, in a generalized environment.
Fire Starter and Kindling: The fire starter relies on the same principle as the common lighter used by smokers, except that there is no fuel. You spin it just like a lighter and sparks fly. It has rubber grips to help you hold it securely. The included kindling will get a fire started, but it won't keep a fire going. Before lighting the kindling, be sure you have a collection of small, thin, dry twigs. The included kindling is designed to start a small fire. Along with your small, thin, dry twigs, you'll want another collection of small sticks that have some meat to them, but not thick like a log. After you have a good fire going with the bigger sticks, then you can burn bigger pieces of wood. As you can see, the kit gets you going, but you still have to work to get the fire.
Signal Mirror: If you've never used a signal mirror, learn. It's easy to practice in the back yard on a sunny day. In a survival situation, and in the right condition (various degrees of sunny), it is a powerful tool that can get you found from many miles away. Why a signal mirror is superior to any old reflector, is because you can aim it fairly accurately. If nothing else, it's a handy mirror while camping.
Whistle: On the opposite end of the very same fire starter, is the whistle. Anything that can extend the range with which you can be found, is valuable. When the sun isn't shining, blow the whistle. In some conditions where the sun doesn't shine, sound actually travels better and further. Blowing a whistle also takes a little less out of you than yelling. Every little bit counts in an emergency situation.
Compass: Generally speaking, it is best to stay put when lost. However, if you generally know what direction a road, trail, lake, river is, this will generally get you there. It is not a precision compass like the kind I used in the military for land navigation, but it points north and is a valuable aid. It doesn't matter how good you are, in the thickest of woods at night, everyone can get disoriented.
Knife: This is a small knife and yet will be a handy tool. It fits nicely into the bottom of the case. The blade seems sharp and has a nice curve to it for filleting and cutting. Like everything else, it is bright orange. Since the knife is pretty small, you will appreciate that it is easy to see and find. Common knife use often means setting it down at times and small knives are easy to lose in nature.
Light: The knife also incorporates a small LED light. I like this one because for being cheap, it is not a press and hold light. You can click on it and it stays on. It's not a powerful light, but it gets the job done in a pinch. It's not a flashlight, it's a small light source that's there when you need it. This light should last hours even with the small watch type battery.
Sheet: For a simple sheet, this has many uses from signaling, to gathering water, to storing things. I didn't open it up, but I don't think it's big enough to be a body blanket.
Needle/Sewing Kit: I see this more for fishing. It's not enough to help you live on the land for a month.
Wire: It's there. There are situation where it would be handy. I just don't see it as the go to item in this kit, unless your emergency becomes extended. Then, it could serve you well with a little more advanced skills.
Lanyard: In situations where you are using this kit, make sure you have the lanyard attached and in use. You don't want to lose this.
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I returned this kit for several reasons.
First, the plastic latch had a small break. Every time I opened it , the latch would pop off. Very annoying. While secure, it did work, so no worries about losing the seal on the watertight compartment. However, I don't want to be searching for that latch when it pops off every time.
Second, I decided to build my own kit. I know what I need and want. I know that the tools I want need to be more robust. Furthermore, I want to be able to live off the land if need be. My kit does just that. My kit also costs far, far more than this, and fills up an entire medium-sized backpack.
Third, for me, I live and breathe tactical. I wanted a kit that could serve both as an emergency survival kit that gets me by until I'm found, and for the unlikely doomsday scenario, provides the tactical means to remain out of sight and out of mind. I like things that can serve more than one function.
If you are like me, this kit is not worth the money. However, it's not to say it is a bad kit. It needs to fit the right person for the right situation, and it in that case, it is a great item.
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Altogether a wonderful bit of kit. We keep it in our Get-home-bag in our minivan. Once you remove and attach the lanyard, there's enough room to put a SE MT908 11 Function Credit Card Size Survival Pocket Tool inside.
When one SERIOUSLY considers the usefulness of fishing hooks in an urban or even a wilderness setting, one can forthrightly suggest replacing them with something more relevant. If you truly live near fish that you can actually catch, there are other kits more suitable. Other than suturing wounds (with barbed hooks? Pitiful sight, that) I can't imagine anyone in the 'hood making practical use of them. Virtual Skyhooks may be a possibility. ;-)
There are some YouTube videos about "always carry" kits created by certified obsessive-compulsive folks that will simply AMAZE you as to what you can stuff into a mint tin. Have fun; go saunter about over there and see what you discover.
Glenn Flock, President
G2F, Inc.
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The IPOK (Individual Patrol Officer's Kit) by North American Rescue is a necessary kit for all law enforcement officers or anyone who engages in an activity that may result in significant hemorrhaging.
